Bill Text: NJ S3782 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes Work Ready New Jersey Scholarship Program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-05-20 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Higher Education Committee [S3782 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-S3782-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator VIN GOPAL
District 11 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Work Ready New Jersey Scholarship Program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing the Work Ready New Jersey Scholarship Program and supplementing chapter 71B of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. There is hereby created the Work Ready New Jersey Scholarship Program for postsecondary students enrolled in approved technical and nursing programs at county colleges and proprietary schools. The purpose of the program shall be to increase the availability of properly-trained employees in high-demand technical and nursing fields. It shall be the duty of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to administer the program.
2. a. A scholarship award under the program shall cover the full cost of tuition, subject to the prior application of other grants and scholarships against those costs, for an eligible student. The full amount of any other grants or scholarships awarded to the student shall be applied to tuition to reduce the amount of any scholarship that the student receives under the provisions of this act. The amount awarded for fees shall not exceed $400 per year.
b. A student shall be eligible for a scholarship under the program for a maximum of four academic semesters, 60 credit hours of enrollment, or upon receipt of an associate's degree, whichever occurs first. A student's scholarship shall remain in effect only during such period as the student achieves satisfactory academic progress as defined by the institution, continues to meet the eligibility criteria and guidelines established pursuant to subsection c. of this section, and is regularly enrolled as a student in an eligible institution.
c. To be eligible to receive a scholarship under the program a student shall:
(1) be a United States citizen;
(2) be a State resident pursuant to guidelines established by the authority;
(3) be a high school graduate, or have passed the General Educational Development Test (GED);
(4) not have previously earned an associate's degree or a higher academic degree;
(5) be enrolled at an eligible institution in an approved program of study;
(6) have applied for all other available forms of State and federal need-based grants and merit scholarships, exclusive of loans, the full amount of which grants and scholarships shall be applied to tuition to reduce the amount of any scholarship that the student shall receive under the provisions of this act; and
(7) not be in default on any federal student loan program or on any loan administered by the New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students (NJCLASS) Loan Program.
3. For purposes of this act:
"Approved program of study" means a nursing program or technical program approved by the Executive Director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority for inclusion in the Work Ready New Jersey Scholarship Program established pursuant to section 1 of this act. An approved program of study shall lead to an Associate's Degree in Nursing, an industry-recognized certificate or diploma, or an Associate of Applied Science degree in one of the following fields: health care, advanced manufacturing, transportation and logistics, business services and information technology, construction, or other field designated by the executive director.
"Eligible institution" means a county college or proprietary school.
4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full academic year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes the Work Ready New Jersey Scholarship Program for postsecondary students enrolled in approved nursing and technical programs at county colleges and proprietary schools. The purpose of the program will be to increase the availability of properly-trained employees in nursing and high-demand technical fields. The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) will be charged with administering the program. Under the bill, students enrolled in county colleges and proprietary schools will be eligible for scholarships towards study that leads to an Associate's Degree in Nursing, an industry-recognized certificate or diploma, or an Associate of Applied Science degree in one of the following technical fields: health care, advanced manufacturing, transportation and logistics, business services and information technology, construction, or other field designated by the executive director of the authority.
The bill provides that a scholarship award under the program will cover the full cost of tuition, subject to the prior application of other grants and scholarships against those costs, for an eligible student. The full amount of any other grants or scholarships awarded to the student must be applied to tuition to reduce the amount of any scholarship that the student receives under the provisions of this bill. The amount awarded for fees cannot exceed $400 per year.
The bill provides that a student will be eligible for a scholarship under the program for a maximum of four academic semesters, 60 credit hours, or upon receipt of an associate's degree, whichever occurs first. To be eligible to receive a scholarship under the program a student must:
(1) be a United States citizen;
(2) be a State resident;
(3) be a high school graduate, or have passed the General Educational Development Test (GED);
(4) not have previously earned an associate's degree or a higher academic degree;
(5) be enrolled at an eligible institution in an approved program of study;
(6) have applied for all other available forms of State and federal need-based grants and merit scholarships, exclusive of loans; and
(7) not be in default on any federal student loan program or on any loan administered by the New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students (NJCLASS) Loan Program.
